Puzzle



. July 14, 1925.

1,546,024 H. J. RElCHENBACH PUZZLE Filed Dec. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet lJuly 14, 1925. I 1,546,024

H. J. REICHENBACH PUZZLE Filed Dec. 5, 1924 ZShe'ts-Shept 2 v Patentedduly 14, 1925.

HENRY J. REICHENIBAOE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PUZZLE.

Application filed December 5, 1924. Serial No. 754,221.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. REIOHEN- EACH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and Stateof Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPuzzles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof.

,This invention relates to puzzles.

Objects of this invention are to provide a. puzzle which sustains theinterest and is relatively diliicult t solve without, however, tiringthe operator by a multitude of parts, but is so constructed thatalthough composed of relatively few parts it, nevertheless, attains itsobject in an effective and interesting manner.

Further objects are to provide a puzzle which may take any desired shapeand is composed of interfitting members so arranged that they require aconsideration of three dimensions as distinguished from a puzzle, all ofwhose parts are adapted to lie in a single plane.

Further objects are to provide a puzzle which is neat and attractive inappearance, which may be manufactured at a relatively small cost, andwhich, when assembled, presents a finished appearance.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 shows a puzzle completely assembled.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the several parts showing them spacedapart but occupying substantially their relative position.

Figures 3 to 6 show successive stages inthe completion of the puzzle.

The puzzle is shown. as illustrated in Figure 1, as of ballishapealthough it is to be understood that it maytake any desired shape, suchfor instance as polygonal, if desired without departing from the spiritof the invention.

It is to be noted further in describing and showing this puzzlethat-parts will be referred to as upper, lower, and side members.although it is to be distinctly understood that these terms are onlyrelative and are employed in order to facilitate the descrip tion. Thesame understanding of the terms employed in the claims is to be takeninto account in constructing the claims.

The puzzle is composed of six members,

namely, a lower member A, a side member B, vertical members G and D, asecond side member E and a top or key member; F. The bottom member A, asmay be seen from Fi ure 2, is symmetrical with regard to bot sides andboth ends. It is provided with-a pyramid 1 projecting upwardly from itscenter, and is provided with triangular side portions 2 and withtriangular cutout lower portions 3, one of which shows in Figure 2.

The side members B and E- are substantially alike and each comprisetriangular end portions 4 and 5 and with an approximately pyramidcentral rtion 6. This central rtion 6, it is to noted, is provided witha V-shaped channel or cutout 7. Further, these side members B and E areeach provided with lower outer triangular cutouts 8.

The vertical members D and E are substantially the same except that theare left and right members, as shown in Figure 2. They each compriseupper and lower approximately triangular projecting portions 9 and 10and a central pyramid portion 11..v They are also provided withtriangular clitouts 12 and '13 on opposite sides thereof, as shown forinstance in the left hand member D. The triangular members 9 and 10 aresubstantially alike except for the fact that the upper triangularmembers 9 are provided with laterally projecting lips or ears 14.

The upper or key member F is substantially wedge shaped on its lowerside, as ind'cated at 1 5 in Figure 2, and is provided ith a relativelysmall end 16 and a relatively larger end 17 The member is furtherprovided with flat faces 18 on opposite upper sides which terminate inshoulders 19 at the point where they reach the relatively larger end 17.I

In assembling the puzzle, the lower mem ber A is first positioned asshown in Fig ure 3, and the member seated within one end of the member Abetween one of the flaps 2 and the pyramid portion'l. The flaps 2, itwill be. noted, fit within the tri angular cutout 8 (see Figure 2) ofthe member B, while the V-shaped notch 7 of the member B is leftuppermost.

Thereafter, the right hand vertical member C is positioned, as shown inFi re 4, with its flap 1O fitting within one of t e cut outs 3 of themember A, one of such cutouts being shown in Figure 2 for the memher A.The lower side of the pyramid 11 of the member C seats upon one of thefaces of the pyramid 1 of the member A.

Thereafter, the vertical member D 15 oositioned, as shown in Fi ure 5,with the tongue of the member B tting within one of the triangularcutouts, for example, the cutouts l3 and with its pyramid portion, suchas shown at 11 for the member Q, seated upon one of the faces of thepyramid 1 of the member A.

The next step is attained by plac ng the side member E in position, asshown 1n Figure 6, with the lower portion of ts pyramid 6 (see Figure 2)seated against the remaining face of the pyramid 1 of the member A andwith the notch 7 uppermost.

It will be seen that a substantially rectangular passageway is now leftbetween the projecting flaps 9 of the vertical members C and D and theremaining portion of the device. Further, it will be noted that theflaps 9 of the members C and D are provided with shoulders 20. The keymember or top member F is now slipped into place, the smaller end 16being first inserted 1n the rectangular opening. Thereafter, the key ispushed home and the shoulders 19 of the key contact with the shoulders20 of the members C and D.

The puzzle is now complete and forms a perfect sphere although, asstated above, th puzzle may take other shapes, for instance polygonal,if desired. At all events a complete, regularly formed solid isproduced, which has no gaps and appears as solidly formed of permanentlyintermeshing parts.

It will be seen from this description and the showing in the drawingsthat an extremely interesting puzzle has been provided which isrelatively diflicult to solve, and which, when solved, presents theappearance of an impossible construction.

It will further be seen that although the puzzle is difiicult, it is,nevertheless, composed of a small number of parts. From this it isapparent that interest is maintained and the operator is not needlesslywearied by handling a large multitude of separate parts.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it isto be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is,therefore, to be limited only as claimed,

I claim:

1. A puzzle composed of a plurality of parts which, when assembled, forma regular solid with interlocked mutually retained parts, said puzzlecomprising a lower member having cutouts at opposite sides thereof andon its bottom, a pair of side members adapted to fit within the cutoutsat the sides of the bottom, a ada ted to fit sald bottom members and saiside members and having portions fitting within the lower cutouts ofsaid bottom members, said vertical members having cutouts which togetherform a passageway, and a key member adapted to he slid longitudinallinto said passageway and contacting wit said vertical members from oneside of the device to the other completely across two adjacent facesonly of said key.

2. A puzzle formed of interlocked, mutually retained parts andcomprising a bottom member having triangular ends and a pyramid center,a pair of side members adapted to fit the side portion of the bottommember and to contact with the side faces of the pyramid of said bottommember, said side members having channels cut in their upper sides, apair of vertical members having pyramid centers adapted to contact withthe pyramid of said bottom member and with correspondingly formedsurfaces of said side members, said vertical members having overhangingflaps forming with said channels of the side members, a passageway, anda key having a relatively small end and a relatively large end, said keybein adapted for sliding longitudinally into said passageway with itssmaller end leading said side and vertical members each contacting withonly two sides of said key.

3. A puzzle formed of interlocked mutually retained parts and comprisinga bottom member having triangular ends and a pyramid center, a pair ofside members adapted to fit the side portion of the bottom member and tocontact with the side faces of the pyramid of said bottom member, saidside members having channels cut in their upper sides, a pair ofvertical members having pyramid centers adapted to contact with thepyramid of said bottom memberand with correspondingly formed surfaces ofsaid side member, said vertical members having overhanging flaps formingwith said channels of the side members a passageway, said verticalmembers each having a corresponding laterally extending flange and eachof said flanges overhanging the same side member and a key having arelatively small end and a relatively large end, said key being adaptedfor sliding longitudinally into said passageway with its smaller endleading, the exposed portions of each of said members forming the outersurfaces of a regular solid, each of the contacting surfaces of saidmembers being unbroken throughout its extent.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

HENRY J. REICHENBAOH.

pair of vertical members

